Tropical North Queensland IS the Great Barrier Reef

When travellers visualise themselves on the Great Barrier Reef - they think
of Tropical North Queensland. While the reef is large in area the region
boasts the only major international airport along the reef - giving the
best access to this natural wonder in Queensland. There are 2900 individual
reefs in an area of 348,000 square km I 216,241 square miles - larger than
the total area of the United Kingdom, or larger than the state of Victoria
in southern Australia, or about half the size of Texas in the USA.

The majestic coral structures extend over 2300km /1430 miles, from the
tip of Cape York Peninsula to the central Queensland coast (Approximately
the same distance from London to Athens). But for most visitors, the Tropical
North is where their reef experience begins. Australia's first floating
post office mailbox service was established by Quicksilver Connections on
the Great Barrier Reef, at Agincourt Reef - 72km offshore from Port Douglas.Visitors
from around the world delight at sending a letter or postcard and the recipient
finding a special post mark from the floating reef platform. Queensland's
first underwater eco-trail is on Agincourt reef off Port Douglas. Specially
fitted plaques of marine grade non-corrosive aluminium give divers information
about fish, coral and how to look after the reef. All signs have been approved
by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which manages the reef
uses and impacts.

The Great Barrier Reef is known as the only natural structure visible from
Outer Space. Astronauts have reported that while they can also see the man-made
Great Wall of China, it is the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef
that really catches their eye. The reef stretches 2,300km from the northern
most tip of Australia to Bundaberg in southern Queensland covering an amazing
348,700 square kilometres.

The Cairns International Airport is serviced by 8 international airlines
and multiple daily services to other parts of Australia - meaning you could
be at home in the morning and booking your trip to the reef that afternoon!

In Tropical North Queensland, visitors experience the reef in a number
of ways. The most popular is by fast catamaran - when passengers are taken
to their reef destination in air-conditioned comfort on high technology
crafts designed to protect the environment. For others, experiencing the
wind in their face on board a sailing ship is the preferred option. There
are also extended cruises to islands and reefs along the coast, helicopters
or scenic plane flights - from several ports on the Tropical North Queensland
coast. The Great Barrier Reef provides superb recreational activities such
as snorkelling, diving, swimming and fishing, or cruising, and offers a
superb environment for scientific research.

Average water temperatures on the reef range from about 22 degrees C (74
degrees F) in July to around 27 degrees C (84 degrees F) in January. The
warm coral waters make it ideal for diving, and each year 1.4 million scuba
dives are made by visitors in its aqua waters. The reef is a major tourist
destination and the advent of high-speed large capacity catamarans now provide
visitors with access to new areas of reef. However, the tourism industry,
in conjunction with management bodies is working co-operatively to ensure
the preservation of the natural assets.

For many travellers planning to discover and explore the reef, while they
will be familiar with the name, the Great Barrier Reef is still a mystery.
So valuable is the Reef, that it was established as a national marine park
by the Australian Government in 1975 and is managed by the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Authority which regulates visitation levels through permits.
In recognition of its global value, it was inscribed on the World Heritage
List on October 26 1981. Countries which sign the World Heritage Convention
are required to undertake policies to preserve, conserve and present the
assets.

The Great Barrier Reef is now the largest World Heritage-listed area in
existence. It is also the largest structure made completely by living organisms,
and is the only naturally-made structure visible by astronauts in outer
space.The Great Barrier Reef is by far the largest single collection of
coral reefs in the world. Biologically the Great Barrier Reef supports the
most diverse ecosystem known to man. Its enormous diversity is thought to
reflect the maturity of an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of
years on the northeast continental shelf of Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef is a collection of coral formations. Coral is formed
by the marine polyp - an organism closely related to jellyfish. The polyp
forms a hard surface by producing lime. As polyps die their coral skeletons
remain, which gradually forms the reef. The reef has been developing in
this way for over 10,000 years. The present reef began growing above the
remains of much older reefs when sea levels rose at the end of the last
Ice Age.

Coral will only develop in water that is clear and salty, above 17.5 degrees
C (65 degrees F) and less than 30 metres /98 feet deep. The reef is home
to the greatest variety of flora and fauna species found in any one location
in the world, including 1500 species of fish, 400 species of corals, 4000
species of molluscs, 500 species of seaweed, over 215 species of birds,
and some of the largest populations of dugong in the world. In addition,
a number of rare and endangered animal species breed annually in the waters
of the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Whale Watching

Humpback whales come from the Antarctic to give birth to their young and
six of the world's seven species of sea turtle breed here. The almost 3000
reefs which comprise the Great Barrier Reef include 760 fringing reefs and
300 coral cays. Of the 300 coral cays, there are 213 unvegetated cays, 43
vegetated cays and 44 low wooded islands. In addition, there are over 600
continental islands.